Dietary fiber intake and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women: the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study.

Divisions of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics and Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA. parkyik@mail.nih.gov

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although dietary fiber has been hypothesized to lower risk of breast cancer by modulating estrogen metabolism, the association between dietary fiber intake and risk of breast cancer by hormone receptor status is unclear.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective was to examine the relation of dietary fiber intake to breast cancer by hormone receptor status and histologic type among postmenopausal women in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study (n = 185,598; mean age: 62 y).

DESIGN:

Dietary intakes were assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. Incident breast cancer cases were identified through linkage with state cancer registries. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 2-sided 95% CIs.